The opt out is the compromise that gives each one of the pretend democrats the cover to pass this bill. They can cheerlead their own health care derived states to opt out! There is no issue for them to oppose. This has always been about money and serving their corporate pimps! Frame the issue correctly or lose the debate and health care reform.

We compromised 4 FUCKING TIMES. We wanted SP we compromise. We wanted Medicare rates, we compromise. We wanted negotiated rates, we compromise. NO MORE COMPROMISING what the hell is wrong with you people. This is ridiculous 4 senators can dictate to 55.

How do you rationally base your strategy for reform on an approach guaranteed to trigger the diehard cultural paranoia on which the Republicans have depeneded for almost a century? In the end, that's all that fighting for the public option actually does.

I have always believed that the public option is a strategy, not an objective. Moreover, it's not the ONLY strategy for achieving one of the REAL objectives - gutting the unaccountable power of the health insurance industry to control access to health care.

I would turn Lincoln's threat against her, by forcing her to base her opposition to health insurance reform on protecting the interests of the health insurance industry, NOT objections to the public option. I would do the same to Nelson, and also to Lieberman and Snowe.

If the public option goes away, but in return, Nelson, Lincoln et al have to give on the antitrust exemption and the ERISA loophole, that would gut the industry's power.